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Expression of Heregulin may be associated with rodent longevity: a comparative approach
Author(s) -
Edrey Yael H,
Buffenstein Rochelle,
Pidel Ann,
Casper Diana
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1401-d
Subject(s) - neuregulin , longevity , rodent , biology , receptor , neuregulin 1 , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , endocrinology , genetics , ecology
Growth factors may be of pivotal importance in extended longevity facilitating the development and maintenance of important organs such as the brain. Heregulins belong to the class of neuregulins that regulate development and maintenance of neurons. We assessed if these growth factors correlate with maximum lifespan (MSLP), phylogeny or lifestyle in rodent species of disparate longevity. We chose 6 species of rodents that show an order of magnitude difference in MSLP, including lab mice and rats (3y), guinea pigs (6y), Damara mole‐rats (15y), Israeli mole‐rats (15y) and the longest living rodent, the naked mole‐rat (NMR), that lives >28y in captivity. We hypothesize that the extended neuronal survival of the NMR may be attributed to higher levels of heregulin, or to higher affinity or more receptors for these important growth factors. Cerebella from mature young adults were processed for western blotting and probed with antibodies to heregulin. Data were normalized by actin and are presented in ratio of heregulin/actin. Preliminary data show that the amount of heregulin does not correlate with phylogeny or lifestyle, but that the longest living rodent, the NMR has twice as much heregulin as shorter living species. Interestingly, neural stem cells also have receptors for this protein, and it is possible that heregulin acts to generate and replace cells that die, thereby maintaining neuronal integrity. This work was supported by The Goldman Charitable Trust and by NIH (GM 08168 and 1RO1AG02289).